Totem Ocean picks Wärtsilä technology for major LNG ship conversion

Wärtsilä will supply main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac) for one of the largest LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America.

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Totem Ocean has announced that Wärtsilä will supply
main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel
gas handling systems (LNGPac) for one of the largest
LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America.

John Parrott, president of Totem Ocean, cited
Wärtsilä's proven technology as a deciding factor in
selecting the company. Parrott emphasized that "maintaining
reliable, on time service is critical to Totem Ocean's
customers as well as the economy and citizens of Alaska."

The contract was signed in the fourth quarter of 2013, and
executives from both companies met on February 17 in Tacoma,
Washington, to announce the project.

"Today marks the beginning of a long relationship between our
two companies," said Parrott. "Our relationship will outlast
this project to extend over the 35-plus
year life of our vessels."

Totem Ocean's fleet of two Orca Class roll-on/roll-off cargo
ships -- M.V. Midnight Sun and M.V. North Star -- transport
about one-third of all the goods required by the inhabitants
of Alaska. Cargo includes essential items such as food,
household goods, vehicles, construction materials and
military supply support.

As a result of the conversion, the Totem Ocean vessels will
set new standards for environmental responsibility by
reducing sulphur oxide (SOx) emission by 100%; particulate
matter (PM) by 91%; nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 90%; and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 35%.

"It is an unprecedentedly exciting time to be in the maritime
industry," said Björn Rosengren, CEO of
Wärtsilä. "Economic constraints and the need to
comply with environmental legislation have
combined to accelerate the switch to LNG fuel.

"Wärtsilä is uniquely positioned to enable this
transition since we have been a leader in developing the
appropriate technology for nearly 30 years,"
he added. "We look forward to working with TOTE on converting
the Midnight Sun and North Star to LNG so that they can
realize the benefits that LNG as a marine fuel can provide."

Each of the vessels will be equipped with four
12-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines and
generator sets

Wärtsilä 50DF engines have been designed to
give high output combined with fuel flexibility, low emissions, efficiency and reliability

Engines can be run either on natural gas, light fuel
oil or heavy fuel oil

Wärtsilä also provides the vessels with two
1100 m³ LNG fuel storage tanks and the associated
automaton and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac(TM))

In addition to the equipment, Wärtsilä is
taking responsibility for the design, engineering and integration of the system, and
project and site management for
its scope of supply

"We are seeing a transformative change in the marine industry
with the switch from oil based product to natural gas," said
Quentin Stewart, sales manager for Wärtsilä's ship
power business in North America.

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